Lake overnight.

Great America's Tax Payments Exceed Cost Of City Services

GURNEE — The amusement tax that the Great America theme park pays to Gurnee outpaces the cost of servicing the park with police and fire protection, Village Board members were told Monday night.

The cost of providing village services, including occasional snow removal from the park's parkway, is estimated to be about $382,000 annually, village officials told the board during its committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The amusement tax generates $1.2 million to $1.5 million a year, staff members said. Patrons of the park pay a 1.6 percent tax, which works out to an average of 40 cents on each ticket sold.

The board instructed staff to do additional research about the village's costs in time for the board's discussions about a new budget this spring. The board is considering raising the amusement tax to help pay for a proposed $6.9 million aquatic center.

The Park District Board last month suggested the village increase the theme park's amusement tax to help fund the proposed aquatic center.

Among the options under consideration is a 3 percent ticket tax, which would raise the average tax on tickets to 76 cents.

Officials said such an increase would allow the aquatic center to be financed over 10 years.